2. On islamic time: Rethinking chronology in the historiography of muslim societies
Document Type
Article
Department
Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, London
Abstract
This article argues that the academic representation of Islamic history as a single timeline, which was established in the nineteenth century and continues to predominate to the present, is a primary issue restricting fruitful readings of Islamic historical materials. Utilizing insights in thinking about history that favor multiple temporalities, I suggest that scholars in Islamic studies can expand the possibilities of their work by paying attention to the diversity of ways in which time is conceptualized within original materials. As illustrations for the rethinking I advocate, I provide readings of the structures and literary affects of three Persian works in different genres, produced circa 1490-1540 ce. I suggest that a foundational reorientation in the field of Islamic historiography has the potential to help us break out of binds identified in the critique of orientalism provided by Edward Said and others and would lead to better ways to approach developments in Muslim societies.
Publication (Name of Journal)
History and Theory
DOI
10.1111/hith.10729
Recommended Citation
Bashir, S.
(2014). 2. On islamic time: Rethinking chronology in the historiography of muslim societies. History and Theory, 53(4), 519-544.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/uk_ismc_faculty_publications/311
Comments
This work was published before Shahzad joined Aga Khan University.